Dean and Britta have that certain je ne sais quoi, do they not? They're good looking, look and dress like Europeans, and dig artists like Joy Division and Nancy Sinatra. Hell, they even did The Squid and The Whale's soundtrack for Noah Baumbach. Their music is similarly themed: it's minimalist, beautiful, effortless, and full of an icy cool. (If one wishes to puncture the image, it's amusing to know that Britta Phillips was the voice of 80's cartoon icons Jem and the Holograms.) Dean Wareham, of course, has legions of fans from his work with Galaxie 500 and Luna, and this certainly isn't a huge departure from his signature sound. Expect dreamy and reflective tales with some irony and beautiful melody lines sprinkled throughout. The duo are touring behind 2007's Back Numbers, which combines some D&B originals with like-minded covers of The Troggs and Lee Hazlewood. Simply put, if you enjoyed Luna, you'll have a good time here. And for Wareham's more ardent fans, he has recently written a memoir about his life in music titled Black Postcards which will be published in March by Penguin. D&B arrive tomorrow at the Cactus Cafe for a pair of shows at 7 and 10pm....

The Bard is back! This weekend only—Shakespeare shenanigans you won't want to miss. But first we're dropping a hint about a little show we've heard is fantastic. Shrewd Productions' Io: a myth about you runs through November 10, Th/Fr/Sa at the Vortex. This play with music features an all-star cast, including our current biggest crush Jude Hickey. Described as a "foray into heroic tales, vengeance, decadence, salvation, forgiveness, and rock & roll," it contains strong......

We entered the park around 1:10pm to the strains of a seriously thrashy number from Yo La Tengo. It was impressive to hear how determined YLT were to throw out some serious noise rock at such an early hour. Being a bit sunburned and rather low-energy, we listened rather than watched, grabbed a blissfully freezing cold beer, and headed over to grab a spot for The National. The National (1:30pm): What perfect music for......

California's Cold War Kids have been the object of both adulation and derision since their inception in 2004. The band's songs traffic in third-person tales of downhearted and desperate characters, and their music frames the stories rather than overpowering them. After playing SXSW in March, Cold War Kids return to town for both a spot on the ACL Festival bill this Saturday and an aftershow at Stubb's on Sunday evening. Austinist traded emails with......

Concerned as it is with the decidedly non-visual sensation of smell, Patrick Suskind’s novel Das Parfum would appear an unlikely candidate for a movie. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the film rights to Das Parfum were offered to everyone from Stanley Kubrick (who declared the book unfilmable) to Tim Burton before they fell into the hands of Tom Tykwer, the German auteur behind Run Lola Run. The result, which opens today, is......

FRIDAY [17] music • Frida Hyvonen, Tacks the Boy Disaster, Jonathan Meiburg (Shearwater) at Emo's Lounge music • She Wants Revenge & Pretty Girls Make Graves at Stubb's music • Deftones, Deadsy at Austin Music Hall music • Steve Carter at Waterloo Records music • Grupo Fantasma at Antone's music • Golden Bear, The Lemurs, Glass Family at Continental Club (9:30pm) music • Joe Ely at Cactus Café music • Chin Up Chin Up,......

THURSDAY [16] wine • Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! at Various music • Peter and the Wolf, The Interest Kills at The Mohawk music • The Elected (Members of Rilo Kiley), Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, Whispertown 2000 at Emo's Lounge music • Jack Ingram & Reckless Kelly at Stubb's music • The Pretenders, Operation:Awesome at Austin Music Hall music • White Ghost Shivers, Dewayn Bros at Beerland music • St. Lawrence......

FRIDAY [10] music • Tilly and the Wall, The Tyde, Pony Up at Emo's music • The Places, 4 Hungry Tummies, Ralph White, Ryan Anderson at Emo's Lounge music • Jolie Holland w. Sonny Smith at The Parish Room music • The Alice Rose at Waterloo Records music • CREEPOUT Fest: Chumps, Bulemics, The Ends,The Wolves at Beerland music • Regina Spektor with Only Son at Antone's (Sold Out) music • The Black, Horse......

THURSDAY [9] music • Ice Age Cobra, Maaster Gaiden at The Mohawk music • Crash Gallery, The Last Gasp, Future Clouds and Radar, Red Leaves at Emo's music • 2nd Annual Miracles on 8th Street at Stubb's ($70, 7pm) music • 2006 Hotel Cafe Tour with Cary Brothers, Rachel Yamagata, Tristan Prettyman, Joshua Radin, Jonah Matranga, Jim Bianco, Sara Bareilles at The Parish Room music • Joshua Radin at Waterloo Records music • CREEPOUT......

FRIDAY [3] party/music • Misprint magazine's latest issue release party, with The Jungle Rockers, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral Five, Chalk Outlines, and the Cave Dwellers at Flamingo Cantina (Doors at 9pm, $5/7, Free beer while it lasts!) art • Aaron Reynolds art opening reception with Music by Peter Wagner of The Mercers & free beer at End of an Ear (6pm) art • Warhol Reception and Lectures at ART on 5th (6-9pm) art......

THURSDAY [2] film • Austinist, PartyEnds.com, and a bunch of other folks team up to host a free screening of the Vice Guide to Travel at Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (7:30pm, Free!) fashion/party • Prototype Vintage celebrates their first anniversary on First Thursday, with snacks and beverages, DJ Little Joe, and more at Prototype Vintage (7-10pm) art • Celebrated Skin: Tatoo Art and Artists Opening at Julia C. Butridge Gallery @ DAC (6pm) art......

The End of Words" src="http://www.austinist.com/attachments/austinist_jonathan/ionescoweblargecut.jpg" width="225" height="348" align=right hspace5 /> What are words for? This is the question posited by two of the three one-act plays currently being delivered by The Coda Project at play! Theatre. All early works from the pen of Eugène Ionesco, father of the Theatre of the Absurd, the plays run in a kind of rotating repertory, with all evening performances including only two plays, and a 3.5-hour marathon of all......

FRIDAY [27] party/music/awesome • Car Stereo (Wars) and Austinist host a Halloween Bash with Clap!Clap!, carnie games, face painting, fortune tellers, free fangs, "killer" drink specials, a costume contest judged by the fashionistas of Team Fabrication, and more at Beauty Bar (10pm-2am, $3 with, 4 w/o costume) zombies • Zombie Flash Mob at City Hall fashion • Beauty Bar Blowout with complimentary 'dos by Birds Barbershop, makeup applications by MAC artists, DJ Robbie Hardkiss......

THURSDAY [26] music • The Beauty Shop, The Shells, The Drawing Board, Just Guns at Emo's music • Broken Social Scene with Do Make Say Think at Stubb's music • Reunion Show for Clifford Antone's Birthday at Antone's music • Jamie Lidell w. Back Ted N Ted (late show) at The Parish Room music • Juana Molina w. Adem (early show) at The Parish Room music • Pete Yorn, Minibar at La Zona Rosa......

FRIDAY [20] dance • Requiem at Intel Shell (8pm, $20-$30) party/gay • Q Monthly Magazine release party at Oilcan Harry's (5-9pm) art • Chris Campbell: Surface/Depth Reception at Gallery 3 at the Co-Op (5-7pm) art • "The Stones": Art of Ronnie Wood Reception at ART on 5th (6-8pm) drag/party/various • International Drag King Extravaganza 8 at Venues Around Austin music • Oakley Hall, Brothers & Sisters, Li'l Cap'n Travis, Pink Nasty at Emo's music......

There's an odd little lot of theatre opening this weekend. From screwball comedy to political puppeteering, you've got more than enough to choose from. We particularly like the looks of The Assumption, brought to you by the good folks at Refraction Arts. With a comedy-fusion format that includes Japanese hillbillies and a little Hamlet thrown in for good measure, this show sounds like too good a time to pass up. Plus the performance includes......

THURSDAY [19] fashion/party • "Sneek" peek party for "The Royal Family," a new clothing/accessories boutique located within Austin Mopeds. Drinks by Tito's Vodka, catering by Kenichi, music by DJ Tats. Afterparty to follow at The Peacock. Party starts at Austin Mopeds (500 San Marcos St. #104, 7-10pm, RSVP Required) art • "Reflections": New Work by Sylvia Angeli Artist's Reception at Gallery Soco (6-9 pm) art • Austin Responds: Weighing and Wanting: Four of Austin’s......

TUESDAY [8] [music] Mike Booher & Catherine Davis (Zykos), Ladyhawk, The Coke Cares at Emo's [film] By the People at Dobie (5pm) ® [film] Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia at Alamo Downtown (7pm) ® [film] Mister Roberts at Paramount Theatre (7pm) [film] Dr. Strangelove at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) ® [film] Fong Sai Yuk, a Jet Li classic, at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm) ® [film] Twelve Angry Men at Paramount Theatre (9:30pm) [film] War......

MONDAY [7] [film] Anthony Kaun Hai - Special Bollywood Screenings at Tinseltown South (6:30pm & 9:45pm) [film] Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia at Alamo Downtown (7pm) ® [film] Magnolia at Austin Java (8pm, Free) ® [film] V for Vendetta at Café Mundi (8:30pm, Free) [film] Urgh! - A Music War at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) [film] War of the Words at Alamo South (10:10pm) TUESDAY [8] [film] By the People at Dobie (5pm)......

Check this week's IST list to see when these artists will be performing. Miranda Sound [mp3] Close Calls [mp3] The Lull of Youngsters [mp3] Midas Black Heart Procession [mp3] Not Just Words Peel [mp3] Moxy Blues Buttercup [mp3] Hot Love [mp3] We're Easy [mp3] Anti-Antarctica Diplo [mp3] Gold Lion (remix) [mp3] Bloc Party's "Helicopter" (remix) [mp3] Staring At the Sun (remix) CSS [mp3] Lets Make Love and Listen to Death From Above The Theatre......

Seriously, is it time for First Thursday again? Highlights of this busy week include Neva Dinova at Emo's on Tuesday, Need New Body at The Parish on Wednesday, the Milago Moonlight Margarita Run on Thursday, and Dance Disaster Movement at The Parish on Friday. Did we forget anything? Let us know. M O N D A Y art · The "Texas Monkey Project" is currently on exhibit at Progress Coffee [pictured: Michael Sieben's "Pink Monkey"]......